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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

The Matchstick Marvels Tourist Center in Gladbrook, Iowa now displays a 1/26 scale International Space Station — made out of matchsticks!

Construction of the International Space Station (ISS) model is complete, requiring 8 gallons of wood glue, 282,000 matchsticks and 1950 hours to complete.

In addition to the 1/26 scaled model of the completed ISS, two additional space station modules have been made in a 1/13 scale and have cutaway sections to show the inside details of the astronauts and cosmonauts living quarters. Cutaway models of the Russian Zvezda module and the European Space Agency's ATV cargo transport will be displayed separately as floor models, while the matchstick model of the completed ISS can be seen suspended from the ceiling of the exhibit area.

cspg

Quite reassuring to see that there are people out there who are far crazier than yourself...1950 hours gluing matchsticks?

Robert Pearlman

If the end result (as here) is the space station, I suggest it's time well spent...

DougS

I've been to the museum in Gladbrook and his work is incredible. The museum also has a shuttle on the launch pad, the US Capitol building and Notre Dame that are awe-inspiring.

Looks like I need to make another trip there to see the ISS!

Ronpur

That is fantastic!! I hope they cut all of the heads off, so it doesn't accidentally burst into flame!

YankeeClipper

Wow! Now that is seriously impressive.

Gilbert

Very cool! I would love to visit the museum.

onesmallstep

That's the closest any one will get to playing with fire on the ISS — with Russia's MIR the exception.

When astronauts describe what they used to assemble the International Space Station, they refer to docking ports, large metal bolts and miles of cabling.

All that artist Patrick Acton needed were 8 gallons of glue and about 280,000 matchsticks, believe it or not.

Acton's 11-foot-long by 15-foot-wide by 4.6 foot tall (3 by 4.5 by 2 meter) space station model may only be one-twenty-sixth (1/26) the size of the orbiting outpost, but is still a sight to behold. Now suspended overhead at Space Center Houston, the visitor complex for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas, the matchstick station is part of the new exhibition "Amazing Universe: The Science of Ripley's Believe It or Not!" which opens on Saturday (Feb. 21).

JSC01

Cool! I don't know if I could have made it to Iowa, but I will definitely be checking out this ISS here in Houston tomorrow!